Comic Movies

I remember distinctly when I heard that there would be an X-Men movie. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Uncanny X-Men was the first comic I purchased with my own money. It was a great period of time to be reading: Claremont was still writing, Silvestri was doing the art. Jim Lee's first issue was one of the first ten I bought. And back issues were still affordable. I went to see the new movie with those adolescent memories in mind and found something very special: a true to the characters I loved portrayal of the central themes of the book. The chess game between Erik and Charles at the end of the film was iconic. It was everything I'd hoped for. My nerdiest friend and I left talking about sequels and planning the next few movies. Oddly, Marvel never consulted with us and the franchise went down the toilet (although X-Men 2: Electric Boogaloo was still good -- always told people Magneto could congeal the iron in someone's blood and kill them with it but no one in 4th grade believed me).

Now, every 3rd movie is a comic book adaptation. It's cool, because aspiring talent wants to get involved with comics. We've been lucky to have a lot of great folks get involved in writing books because they think it'll launch their careers in other media. And to a large degree, they're right. That dude who wrote Young Avengers got to write for the OC and Grey's Anatomy. Jeph Loeb did work on Smallville and Heroes. And Brian K Vaughn got up in the middle of Lost. There has been some downside: Kevin Smith's aborted and delayed series, the rise and fall of J. Michael Straczynski, and stories that are clearly pandering for movie treatment rather than taking full advantage of the medium they're utilizing.

This brings me to summer movie season. Kick-Ass starts this Friday. I'm going to see it. I love Mark Millar. I support comics movies (I even saw Ghost Rider and Hellblazer, although not in theaters). But I won't mince words. This book was only ok. Parts of it were hilarious. But a lot of it was explicitly lifted from or at least indebted to Wanted. The best part of the book, JR Jr.'s art, won't be in the film. I don't have huge expectations. I'm hoping McLovin and Nick Cage will provide some comic relief. But, and a friend asked me today if I was, I'm not excited about this movie. I doubt it's going to live up to the hype, much like the comic failed to do. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised like I was with Fantastic Four (not the naked silver guy one, the first one).

Iron Man II. Oh my god. If ever a movie defied expectations, it was Iron Man. I knew that the casting choice was brilliant. RDJr is the 3rd best actor to be in a comic book film ever, behind Adam West and the dude from That 70's Show (juuuuust kiddin -- Patrick Stewart and Raiden are the best, obvi). Even Gwyneth Paltrow didn't feel like an enormous bitch like she usually does. She was an incredibly likable Pepper. And until Jeff Bridges voiced the cgi suit, he was a good, though not great, villain. The new movie has Mickey "everyone loves me now" Rourke, Scarlett "owwwww" Johannson, and Mike Epps -- juuuuust kiddin, Don Cheadle -- expanding the talent of the cast and adding new, exciting, nerd-love characters. Some rivalry between Rhodey and Tony should be brewing over the War Machine armor. And, even though this film won't delve into Tony's alcoholism, it has to be coming to a head in the near future, perhaps as a set up for the Avengers film in 2012. I'm thrilled. Two weeks is too long. Bring on IMII.

Other movies I'm excited about: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Michael Cera fights for his love against ex-boyfriends in a superheroic spoof) and The Losers. Both could flop and I'd still like to see them because they're smaller-scale properties making it because of their cinematic qualities. It's good to see some good writers rewarded for their hard work. I still need to read Scott Pilgrim (I peeped an issues-worth online, but saved the rest for a real read).

Avengers, obvi. If you haven't heard, Joss Whedon is on it. Thor, Cap, Iron Man, Hulk. Samuel L. as Nick Fury. Bring it on. Get excited now. You only have two plus years to get your fake Mjolnir and eye-patches ready.